Arcanum - Chapter 183

Chapter 183: 183
Entering kind of empty tavern a teenage girl came towards us . "HI! How many?" She asked with a welcoming smile .





"6 Please!" Grace asked since she was closest to her .

"Sure follow me, please . " she said leading us to a round table .

"Um can we take the ones with the comfy booth chairs?" I questioned pointing at the more comfortable ones .

"Sure . " She smiled leading us there to my surprise there wasn't any menus handed out to us .

"So what's good here?" Morgana asked .

"We have an assortment of dried meats, breads, fresh fruits and fresh juice . " She answered with a gleeful smile .

"We'll have one loaf with butter and a bit of everything please and if there's a special one of those . " Jay said with a smiled .

"Sure sure . " She smiled and walked away, giving us a second glance before entering the kitchen .

"I can't believe they tried to scam us!" Grace said in utter disgust at the way the lady selling us the caravan conducted her business .

"Don't blame her, she's only trying to make a living . " Jay said defending her .

"Here's your fresh loaf . " The teenage maid came over placing a plate in the middle with a whole loaf of bread still warm to the touch, "and the butter," she placed a plate with butter on it with a butter knife, "and lastly" our fruit spreads she said placing small jars on the table with a selection of different fruits and a small knife for each flavour . "Enjoy!" She said with a giant smile and walked away but quickly scurried back to us . "Um, if you don't mind me asking are you all Atlantis students?" She asked in brimming in absolute excitement .

"We are, how could you tell?" I smiled back .

"We don't normally get fresh faces around here . . and you all look the right age to be students plus you all have weapons on you . " She answered . "Tell me is it really as great as everyone says it is?" She questioned in complete admiration .

"It's great . " Jay smiled .

"I wish one day I could go or at least visit there . . . " She rocked side to side in imagination .

"I'm sure one day you will . " I smiled .

"If only… sadly I not blessed with the ability to use magic . " She sighed, looking a little depressed .

"Just keep your hopes up!" I smiled to her .

"Hey Mary! the drinks are ready!" A voice shouted from inside the kitchen .

"Oh that's me! Be right back . " She smiled, running into the kitchen, coming back out after a few seconds with a huge jug of fresh orange juice and several cups . "Have you met Paul the Black Dragon Slayer in person?" She asked in excited to hear our answer .





"We have actually . " I smiled .

"Is he really as great as they say?" She questioned .

"He really is something . " Grace smiled .

"I literally would die if he came to eat here and I could meet him . " She said in total admiration .

"Say what's this tavern called?" I questioned .

"Oh, it's the Open gardens . " She smiled .


"Ahh delightful place . Is this a family-run establishment?" I questioned smiling to her .

"Oh, no . . I just work here helping provide for my family, the owner was nice giving me a job with no experience . " She smiled .

"That's nice . " I smiled .

"Between me and you is there anything I can do to get into Atlantis?" She asked quietly .

"Just stay hopeful, keep that spark of hope . " I smiled .

"I'll get the rest of your order . " She smiled extremely happy .

"Emilia . . you can't give her false hope like that . " Morgana whispered .

"I agree . . she said she can't use magic . " Grace agreed .

"Yeah but . . a little of hope doesn't hurt . " I answered them .

"I agree with Emilia . . Everyone needs a goal or something to work towards . " Helen agreed with me .

"Even if the goal is unobtainable? You can't just will yourself to use magic . " Jay agreed with the others .

"Yeha but there're students in Atlantis that fight without magic and some students can't even use magic . " I argued quietly .

"Yes, but those students aren't just normal fighters, their bodies naturally use Arcanum giving them a higher peak . " Jay answered .





"I'm with Emilia, hope is strong even if she can't make it to Atlantis maybe if she worked on it she could still be a strong individual and go on to do great things . " Daisy explained making the three of them reexamine their views .

"Let's just forget it for now and eat some food . " I said trying to cheer everyone us cutting a slice of break for everyone .

"Okay . . here's the rest of your order . . Dried cured meats, bowl of fruits and my personal specialty fruit pie . I hope you all are enjoying your meal . " She smiled, placing on the table a beautifully cooked black berry pie .

"Wow . . " Helen and Daisy looked at it in awe .

"You did this yourself?" I questioned in absolute shock .

"Yup! it's what we are famous for . " she smiled with pride .

"You know what you should do?" I asked her with a smile .

"Oh, what else?" She asked with a smile .

"Use this dough or pastry . . and make smaller fruit filled packets for individual customers to purchase so they don't have to buy a complete pie . " I advised her .

"Woah . . . . that's a brilliant idea!!" She smiled, I could tell that she was whipping up a storm of ideas .

"Oh and brush the outside with egg yolk . . and sprinkle sugar on the top after they finish baking . Gives it a nice golden crust and a great appearance" I also advised .

"Thank you, miss . . " She paused, not knowing my name .

"I'm Emilia . . . and this is Jay, Daisy, Helen Grace and Morgana . " I answered also by introducing everyone else .

"and I'm Mary . " She replied with a giant smile, "So what brings you guys here?" She questioned .

"Oh we're here to visit Jay's home town Thralkeld . " I answered her .

"Jay's from around here?" She looked at him in admiration .

"Yes, I am . " He smiled .

Another set of customers came in causing her to look at them giving them a 1 second sign, "I've got to go . . It was lovely to meet you all! If you ever come back, please come by for a visit . " She smiled loooking, extremely hopeful .

"We'll try . " I smiled to her .

"Have an enjoyable meal . " She said and ran towards the new customer and seated them .





"I really hope one day she gets to go Atlantis . " I said, wishing the best for her .

"We all do . . we always wish the best for everyone," Helen smiled .

"Well, let's finish up and get on the road . " Jay suggested finishing up his share of the food .

" . . Human food is a lot nicer than Elven food . " Both Grace and Grace stuffed themselves .

"How far is Thralkeld?" Morgana asked .

"Hmm should take us about four hours if I remember correctly . " He answered looking a little nervous, making me remember what Paul told me about his mum and dad yesterday .

"Say Morgana what was your upbringing like?" I questioned .

"It was boring . . Mother always came back with so many ingredients that needed to catalogued and processed . " She answered .

"And your spare time?" I questioned .

"Learning to do . . magic . " She took a pause looking at Helen choosing a word that won't offend her . "and potion craft and stuff . " She answered .

"What did you do for fun?" I asked .

"Nothing you'd find interesting . " She replied .

"Surprise me . " I answered her .

"Well, my best friend was a swamp troll . . we spent a lot of time hunting for food and gathering food together . " She answered .

"Oh, that's nice . . . " I hesitantly replied knowing trolls are generally bad creatures .

"Before we go Emilia heres my share . " Jay said giving me two gold coins .

"Oh, mine to . " The rest replied giving me their gold coins .

"Sure . " I answered, taking the gold . "Um Mary, can we pay the bill?" I ask politely once I grabbed her attention .

"Sure . " She said with a smile coming to our table .

"So . . in all everything would be . . . 34 silver pieces . " She smiled .

"Okay sure!" I said paying her two gold coins, making her look at me in astonishment . "It's a tip keep the change . " I smiled .

"Thank you so much!" She said giving me an enormous hug and bowed respectfully to everyone else .

"Remember, my advice I got a feeling it will work . " I smiled .

"Yes, thank you!" She said packing away the plates and bid us one last goodbye before going into the kitchen .

"Let's get this road trip started . " I smiled, trying to hype everyone up .

"Woo" Daisy yelled, mimicking my enthusiasm .

Making our way back to the stables, the Caravan waited outside, both horses already strung up and saddled ready to head off .

"Oh, you're back . " The woman said in excitement . "Everything is ready, I assume one of you can drive . " She asked .

"Yes, one of us can . How much will it cost?" I questioned .

"How many nights will you be needing it?" She asked .

"2 day's please," I requested .

"Sure that would be 20gold in total including deposit . " she asked .

"Sure here you go . " I said passing her the gold .

"Thank you for your business . " She smiled, walking around the corner to show us the caravan .

"Thank you . " we all answered, jumping in while Grace jumped on the front with the reins .

"Have a safe journey . " The lady smiled walking back into the building .

Helen and Morgana took both the horses' heads towards themselves calming the horse while whispering something to them . "I'll ride with Grace . " Helen said jumping in the front next to her .

"Sure!" Morgana said, jumping in the back with us .

"Some more padding would be nice . " I said, finding it a little uncomfortable .

"At least they did an excellent job cleaning out the smell . " Daisy said as the sound of a leash whip caused us to begin moving, starting our first ever journey .